By: Diane Benjamin
I filed a FOIA request to find out how much revenue Normal received from providing fire related services to Hudson, Lexington, and Towanda.
Remember, when Normal is running calls outside of Normal they aren’t available to run calls in Normal.
The timeline for my FOIA was 1/1/2023 – 12/1/2025. That amounts to 2 years and 11 months. I didn’t get a response so far when I asked what fund this revenue gets put in. I feel confident in saying it goes to the General Fund, not Fire Department Operations.
Look back at this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/02/normal-fire-department-part-2/
Note in that story Normal didn’t increase the number fire fighters.
Just for these dates in September, Normal ran calls outside of Normal and Bloomington covered for them: 2nd, 10th, 25th, 26th.
In October, the same happened on: 2nd, 17th, 19th, 20th, 23rd, 30th.
Lexington paid $26,042 during the 35 months listed. I don’t know why they got a comparative cheap deal.
Towanda paid $317,206.
Hudson paid $727,136.
See the files here, the first page of each is covered with black spots the clerk’s office told me they tried and failed to get rid of. Maybe someone can explain why Lexington gets a huge deal the two others don’t.
Good info and definitely questionable!! Too bad many other taxpayers don’t ask or seem to care about getting answers in county or BN. Ughh
Normal provides Ambulance coverage to Towanda and Hudson. Normal only provides ALS intercepts to Lexington since Lexington has their own Ambulance. That’s why the amount is a lot less. Normal bills Lexington a certain amount of money per intercept they provide. The amount is spelled out in the Intercept agreement they have
Thanks!